the Apostle, " He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly." (2 Cor. ix. 6.)[1]
SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
Christ the Spouse of your Soul.
"Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go forth to meet Him." (Matt, xxv. 6.)
I. "The third day, there was a marriage feast in Cana of Galilee." (John ii. 1.) A similar event will take place to-day, between Christ and your soul, in the holy Eucharist, provided you assent to it, according to His words uttered by Osee: "I will espouse thee to Me forever, and I will espouse thee to Me in justice, and judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in tender mercies." (Osee ii. 19.) Although you have frequently been faithless to your heavenly Spouse, by entertaining inordinate affections, and cherishing undue attachment to creatures, He is nevertheless ready to pardon you, and He even invites a renewal of your affection by His prophet: "Thou hast prostituted thyself to many lovers: nevertheless, return to Me, saith the Lord, and I will receive thee." (Jer. iii. 1.)
II. How highly worldly characters consider themselves honored by being espoused to great or noble personages! How much greater is your honor, when you are espoused to the King of heaven! Reflect on the heavenly
- ↑ If any days remain between the Octave and the second Sunday after Epiphany, the meditations on the preceding pages (no to 117) are to be repeated according to the number-of days. If a whole week remain; then, on Monday, take the Meditation of the Purification, page 120, and proceed with the following in order, omitting that of the second Sunday, after the Epiphany, until it comes in its proper place.
